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25/90986/C
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PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Application No. : 25/90986/C Applicant : Miss Maria Bostock Proposal : Change of use from restaurant and bar to cafe (Class 1.3) Site Address : 66 Parliament Street Ramsey Isle Of Man IM8 1AJ
Planning Officer: Peiran Shen Photo Taken : Site Visit : Expected Decision Level : Officer Delegation
Recommendation
Recommended Decision:
Permitted Date of Recommendation: 22.01.2026
Conditions and Notes for Approval C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions
C 1. The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.
Reason: To comply with Article 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.
C 2. The use hereby approved shall only be undertaken:
07:00-22:00 between Monday and Sunday
Reason: To ensure that the development is undertaken in accordance with the application details and in the interest of protecting neighbouring living conditions.
This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason. The proposal is considered to have no negative impact on neighbouring amenities. It is considered to comply with General Policy 2 of the Strategic Plan.
Plans/Drawings/Information;
This approval relates to the document, planning statement, location plan, site plan, appendix A (existing and proposed floor plans) and photos, which have been received on 3rd November 2025.
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25/90986/C
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Right to Appeal
It is recommended that the following organisations should NOT be given the Right to Appeal: Ramsey Town Commissioners- No objection DoI Highway Services - No objection Design Out of Crime Officer - Objection does not relate to material planning considerations
Officer’s Report 1.0 THE SITE 1.1 The site is the ground floor of 66 Parliament Street, Ramsey, a terrace house located north of Parliament Street. It is currently a restaurant.
2.0 THE PROPOSAL 2.1 The proposal is to use the ground floor as a coffee shop. The proposal is to open between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m.
3.0 PLANNING HISTORY 3.1 Conversion of premises from retail to a wine/tapas bar and installation of flue at rear was APPROVED under PA 16/00790/B.
4.0 PLANNING POLICY Site Specific 4.1 The site is within an area designated as Mixed Use (Town Centre) in the Ramsey Local Plan 1998.
Strategic Policy 4.2 The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 contains the following policies that are considered materially relevant to the assessment of this current planning application: o General Policy 2 (b) (c) (f) (g) (k) (m) (n) PPS and NPD 4.3 No planning policy statement or national policy directive is considered materially relevant to this application.
5.0 OTHER MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS Strategy and Guidance 5.1 There is no strategy or guidance materially relevant to this application.
6.0 REPRESENTATIONS 6.1 Ramsey Town Commissioners have no objection to this application (21.11.2025). 6.2 DoI Highway Services does not oppose this application (11.11.2025). The comment states that there is no significant negative impact upon highway safety, network functionality and/or parking as the site is in a sustainable location in Ramsey centre with public transport links and town centre parking available. 6.3 Design Out of Crime Officer objects to this application (25.11.2025). The comment requires installation of CCTV, alarm, security lighting, certified doors, roller shutter, safe, access control for staff area, and personal attack alarms. The comment also concerns customer driving under the influence of drugs and potential drug misuse/abuse, safeguarding issues and drug disposal.
7.0 ASSESSMENT Elements of Assessment 7.1 The main considerations for this application are the nature of the development, its impact on neighbouring properties Nature of the Proposal
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25/90986/C
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7.2 The proposal is for a coffee shop with a target to cater for medical marijuana users. The use also includes events organised for this targeted group. While the target audience is unusual, the proposed activities included in the planning statement do not extend beyond the scope of a normal coffee shop, and it will be assessed as such. Neighbouring Impact 7.3 The coffee shop is located within Ramsey Town Centre. Its operation is considered to have no more impact than the existing restaurant. Safety and Security 7.4 The Design Out of Crime officer requested a number of security measures. While they may be important for the operation of the businesses, they are not considered to be a material consideration since the use is defined as just a coffee shop. Many of these requirements are also regulated by other authorities and legislations, meaning they are not controlled by planning in the first instance.
8.0 CONCLUSION 8.1 The proposal is considered to have no negative impact on neighbouring amenities. Therefore, the proposal is considered to comply with General Policy 2, Business Policy 5, and Transport Policy 7 of the Strategic Plan, and it is recommended for approval.
9.0 RIGHT TO APPEAL AND RIGHT TO GIVE EVIDENCE 9.1 The Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019 sets out the process for determining planning applications (including appeals). It sets out a Right to Appeal (i.e. to submit an appeal against a planning decision) and a Right to Give Evidence at Appeals (i.e. to participate in an appeal if one is submitted). 9.2 Article A10 sets out that the right to appeal is available to: o applicant (in all cases); o a Local Authority; Government Department; Manx Utilities; and Manx National Heritage that submit a relevant objection; and o any other person who has made an objection that meets specified criteria. 9.3 Article 8(2)(a) requires that in determining an application, the Department must decide who has a right to appeal, in accordance with the criteria set out in article A10. 9.4 The Order automatically affords the Right to Give Evidence to the following (no determination is required): o any appellant or potential appellant (which includes the applicant); o the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, the Department of Infrastructure and the local authority for the area; o any other person who has submitted written representations (this can include other Government Departments and Local Authorities); and o in the case of a petition, a single representative.
I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Principal Planner in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation and that in making this decision the Officer has agreed the recommendation in relation to who should be afforded interested person status and/or rights to appeal.
Decision Made : Permitted
Date: 27.01.2026
Determining Officer Signed : C BALMER
Chris Balmer
Principal Planner
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